# Descriptive Characteristics of Multiple Myeloma Patients in King Abdulaziz Medical City National Guard

## TL;DR

This study examines the clinical features and survival rates of multiple myeloma patients in a Saudi hospital, finding gender differences in survival and common symptoms like bone lesions and anemia.

## Contribution

The study provides descriptive insights into the clinical and laboratory characteristics of multiple myeloma patients in a specific Saudi healthcare setting.

## Key findings

- Female patients had significantly higher death rates compared to males (p-value = 0.023).
- Anemia was associated with a higher hazard ratio for mortality (aHR = 2.61).
- Bone lesions and renal disease were the most common clinical presentations among patients.

## Abstract

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the production of monoclonal immunoglobulin. It is the second-most common hematological malignancy. The survival rate varies depending on age at diagnosis, comorbidities, and treatment.This study aims to assess the prevalence of clinical and laboratory characteristics among multiple myeloma patients.

Methods

This is an observational study of multiple myeloma patients who were admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City - National Guard between January 2015 and December 2020. Patient records were reviewed to derive clinical and laboratory characteristics. Descriptive data analysis and survival analysis were obtained using SPSS.

Results

Our study included 151 patients, 95 of whom were males and 56 were females, and the mean age of diagnosis with MM was 62.6 (SD = 13.4). Among 151 MM patients, the most common clinical signs were bone lesions and renal disease, with a percentage of 66.9% and 46.4%, respectively. Death rates throughout the time of study conduction were 19.2%, accounting for 29 patients, and the median overall survival was 5.1 years with a 95% confidence level. Testing the association between survival rates and gender showed that death rates in females were significantly higher than in males (p-value = 0.023). Patients with anemia had a significantly higher hazard ratio in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses (aHR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.21-5.65).

Conclusion

There was a relationship between survival and gender, which suggests a protective factor favoring the male gender. Clinical and laboratory characteristics, including bone marrow lesions, anemia, and renal disease, were the initial presentation; thus, a detailed history focused on symptoms should be taken when any of these symptoms are reported.